How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 3 (Part 2):

Tapping its wrinkled fingers on its cheek—tap tap—Didaskalia spread its wings wide.

“Anyway, we can’t waste more time, so let’s get started!”

Started?

With what?

Questions appeared on people’s faces.

Fear of the unknown.

It swallowed the 98 people, except for Yujin.

“You’re all standing in a place called the Tower of Light.”

Didaskalia began explaining with exaggerated kindness.

“The Tower of Light consists of 100 floors, and you are the honored players chosen to climb it.”

‘Honored, my a*s.’

More like cursed.

Yujin cursed inwardly.

“For every floor you climb, you’ll receive rewards befitting your efforts. It could be an item with special abilities or powers beyond human limits.”

“C-Can we leave?!”

Someone mustered the courage to ask.

Items, powers—none of that mattered.

What they wanted to know was whether they could escape this mysterious place.

“Of course you can!”

Didaskalia nodded dramatically, its gestures exaggerated.

“Climb five floors, and you may leave! …Though, of course, there is a one-week time limit.”

The faces that had briefly brightened at the prospect of returning home darkened again.

Savoring their despair, Didaskalia continued.

“Don’t be too disappointed. Let’s think about it together. The things you can gain here are no joke. Don’t you get excited just imagining what you could do with them outside?”

It was true, in fact.

Items and superhuman powers.

They granted players immense wealth and influence.

Some even lamented not being chosen by the 【Akasha System】.

A week was short, but there were ways to stay longer.

Didaskalia kept talking, covering familiar topics.

Levels, traits, achievements—the basics.

Yujin, listening quietly, decided he’d heard enough and raised his hand.

“Yes, Sung Yujin, player. Do you have a question?”

It responded as if it were a teacher.

‘Time to educate everyone.’

What this Tower truly meant.

“What happens if we don’t climb the Tower?”

Grin-.

Didaskalia’s mouth stretched wide, splitting to its ears.

“That’s a very, very good question.”

In his first run, no one had asked this.

By the time they realized, it was too late.

Drunk on the Tower’s gifts, indulging in pleasure, they scrambled to climb only when it was far too late.

But was it ever going to be easy?

In the end, Yujin was the only one to reach the 100th floor, and the world fell to ruin.

Didaskalia’s answer was the same.

“BOOM! The world will be destroyed.”

Not a hint of a lie.

Naturally, the crowd grew agitated, but Yujin only stared at Didaskalia.

“Sung Yujin, player. You’re really special, peculiar even. Killing someone right off the bat, that unflappable expression, and even the system…”

Yujin could feel its growing interest in him.

“Well, anyway! If you don’t want to see the world end, you’d all better climb hard! Got it?”

As if they could understand.

The crowd spiraled beyond agitation into panic, and Didaskalia, with an expression that said it expected this, snapped its fingers.

Snap-!

Silence fell instantly.

No sound traveled through the air.

It was as if time itself had frozen.

“You don’t seem to grasp it yet, so shall we show you properly?”

Baring its teeth in a grin, Didaskalia uttered something chilling.

“Just survive for 10 minutes as a taste. After that, you’ll understand what I mean.”

Horrified expressions spread across the crowd.

Survive?

From what?

Though no sound could be heard, fear swam through the silent sea, spreading in all directions.

“Death Dragon of Radiant Heaven, come forth.”

ROOOOAAAAARRR-!

With a roar that seemed to tear the world apart, a terrifying presence emerged.

‘There you are, Darkness.’

The sinister dragon that devoured light, the boss of the 90th floor, that damned lizard.

Obviously, no one on the Tutorial Floor could face Darkness.

It was a monster, plain and simple.

Among the dragonkind Yujin had encountered, it was the strongest, barring Apocalypse.

Releasing it on a level 1 starting zone—how could anyone stop it?

Didaskalia just wanted to watch a massacre.

‘In the first run, about a third died, right?’

And that was generous.

If Darkness had gone all out, it wouldn’t have taken 10 minutes—10 seconds would’ve turned everyone to dust.

It couldn’t kill all the players, so it was likely nerfed to that extent.

“Run!”

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahk!”

Facing Darkness’s massive, shadowy form, people fled in a frenzy.

Nobody could face this thing and stay sane.

Nobody except one.

Yujin.

Step-.

Unlike the others, he walked toward it.

“Huh? Planning to off yourself? That’s a bit inconvenient.”

Seeing this, Didaskalia furrowed its repulsive face.

It had pegged Yujin as someone worth watching, never expecting him to approach instead of flee.

But Yujin, instead of answering, said what he wanted.

“I’ve been thinking this whole time.”

While killing Jin Taeho.

While listening to Didaskalia’s explanation.

While watching Darkness being summoned.

He thought and thought endlessly.

And reached one conclusion.

“It’s probably best to use it now.”

Didaskalia tilted its head, not understanding.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means this, you fu*king freak.”

■ Activating skill 『Lantern of Life[S]』.

With the 【Akasha System】’s notification, the God of Battle Sung Yujin, who had climbed to the 100th floor alone and torn Apocalypse to shreds, descended upon the Tutorial Floor.

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novels: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" & "The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring " If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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